Tag Archives: Medicine Hat

This is the last post of the Davis Auto Blog to be published at this URL address as we have officially moved our blog to http://blog.davisgmctrucks.ca. All previous posts on this blog have been transferred to the new site so nothing is lost. We’ll see you over at the new address. Housewarming gifts accepted!

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Exciting news from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit – Buick has revealed their new small crossover!! Welcome the 2013 Encore to the family!! The Encore will be smaller than most other vehicles in its class, with a 2.66 meter wheelbase, but it packs 1,359 litres of cargo room onto a revised version of the platform used on the current subcompact Chevrolet Sonic. The Encore will also share its powertrain with the Sonic and Chevy Cruze, a 1.4L turbo 4-cylinder that cranks out 140 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque.

The Encore joins the Verano – this years new addition – to round an already stellar lineup with the Regal, Lacrosse, and Enclave SUV. It will get the same IntelliLink hands free bluetooth system with 17.7 cm LCD screen that is coming to all Buick models for 2012, and will also feature an all-new Active Noise Cancellation system which will make the Encore one of the quietest rides on the road.

” Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle,” said Tony DiSalle, US vice president of Buick Marketing. “It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today.”

The Encore will be hitting dealer lots in early 2013 – enjoy some pictures from the NAIAS for the time being!

Wow, there are some sharpshooters here in Medicine Hat! We had our ‘Shoot to Win’ competition yesterday with tickets to the World Junior Gold Medal game on the line, and had more than 50 competitors come in to test their skill on our targets. 16 of those contestants are walking away with great prizes – ranging from Gold and Bronze Medal game tickets, playoff round tickets, to Team Canada merchandise such as jerseys and hats. It was a tight race, Larry Leismeister led the way for most of the day with an incredible time of 20.5 seconds, but Les Beebe came in near the end of the day and stole the show with a time of 20.0 seconds, narrowly edging Larry out for the win. All in all it was a lot of fun, and we’d like to thank everyone who came out and tried to ‘Shoot to Win’ – congratulations to all of our winners!!

After tallying a week’s worth of votes on our Facebook page we have this years “Winner” of Best ‘Mo at the dealership. With a tight 2 vote margin of victory, our Sales Manager Duncan MacDiarmid has been crowned this years Moustache King!! It took 30 days of hard work, but looks like it has paid off! Nice work D-Mac! We also have to shout out to our runner up, Don Nunweiler who came in a very, very close second with 99 votes. Don shaved his moustache for the first time 38 YEARS to take part in the competition!

Don's Mo came in a close second with 99 votes

We’d also like to extend a huge thanks to Tim Davis for generously donating $1,000 in Duncan’s name to Movember for winning the contest!

We look forward to participating once again next year and do all we can to raise awareness and change the face of men’s health! For now, enjoy pictures of the rest of our sales team!

Duncan’s Mo earned him 101 votes

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YEEEE-HAWW. It’s that time of year again folks – Wranglers, cowboy boots and Stetsons – Stampede! This Saturday we will once again be hosting a pancake breakfast at the dealership. Our staff will be taking turn flipping flapjacks, and Mike’s Meats will be providing sausages from 7:00-10:00 am. It’s a great way to start Stampede Week, we’ll have live entertainment and a clown, so bring the whole family, enjoy a great breakfast, and kick off an exciting week in Medicine Hat!

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My Dad would shoot me if he knew I was writing this, (he’s a pretty humble guy), but I figured fathers day is this month so there’s no better time to brag about your dad then the month of June. The Motor Dealers Association of Alberta awards the Alberta Dealer of Excellence award to two dealers each year. One to a deserving metro dealer from Calgary or Edmonton and one to a deserving non-metro winner from the rest of the province. The award reflects the unique challenges and accomplishments of dealers in different marketplaces. John was the winner of the award for 2010 in the Non – Metro category.

The main criteria in order to win the award are:

Business Acumen

Community Involvement

Association/Industry Involvement

In my opinion the greatest thing about the Alberta Dealer of Excellence Award is that all the candidates are nominated by their peers and the applications are examined and chosen by a panel of past award recipients. Some of the factors that are considered for nomination and winning are customer satisfaction, ethics, the attitude and competence of the dealership’s staff, the dealer’s leadership in association issues and service to civic, political and educational activities.

I guess I always knew that my dad had all the great qualities of an excellent car dealer but I think the thing that really makes him great in my eyes is his reputation amongst his peers in the industry and his reputation as a person. He is held in high regard by many General Motors and non General Motors dealers around the province and country and in his acceptance speech he spoke of the outstanding relationship he has enjoyed with our franchise partner, General Motors. He also spoke of the pride he takes in his partnership with our various Dealer partners in Brooks, Fort Macleod, Claresholm, Lethbridge, Westlock and Barrhead. John has told us thoughout our careers that he would be nowhere without the great people that surround him. He has had amazing success at attracting loyal, hard working, intelligent professionals to help him thoughout his career. He often speaks of how grateful he is for those relationships.

Call me biased but I couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate for the 2010 award. My dad has not only dedicated his career to being a great husband, dad, partner, and employer, but he truly appreciates every last customer who has patronized any of his dealerships. He has adopted the age old philosophy of “The customer comes first” as his own and he promotes it throughout his organization.

Joe Carbury said it over a thousand times and here we go again in Medicine Hat. The World Professional Chuckwagon Association is bringing the Half Mile of Hell to the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Grounds June 11 – 13th this year.

One of the most personable Chuckwagon drivers to ever run on the circuit will be doing his best to take the title this year. Shane Cartier will be running under the Davis GMC Truck Center tarp and he’ll be looking to improve on his most recent standings. Shane is a veteran driver entering his 7th season on the WPCA Pro Tour. He won the Calgary Stampede’s Orville Strandquist award for the top rookie driver in 2007, and is the 2nd highest selling rookie of all time at the Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Canvas Auction. In his rookie season in 2004, Shane was the runner up for at the Badlands Dinosaur Derby and later that season he received the Kenn Borek Most Sportamanlike Driver award at the Battle of the North. A product of the Pony Chuckwagon circuit, Shane ran the circuit for 18 years winning 15 show championships. 2009 saw Shane post 2 top 10 runs with a 3rd place run at the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede, being his best of the year. Come on out June 11 – 13th and cheer on Shane in the Davis GMC Truck Center Chuckwagon and enjoy a great evening of entertainment watching the WPCA’s Half Mile of Hell!!